Splitting the Sea

The truth is that we have not been taught how to see things as they actually are, but still, after all this education, we look at the world through the eyes of our conditioning, our education. Everything we see we name, from the depths of our knowledge, and along with that knowledge/naming we include our own narrative, personal and collective. Our teachers encourage this, innocently, because that is all they know how to do, how to explain things. Unfortunately we get our courage to face life that way. The more we know the safer we are. Which, of course can not be farther from the Truth. What feels like attaining greater depth of understanding is really attaining greater depths of delusion. One must quiet the mind and look without naming anything. The same goes for all the senses. Reply

Paragraph #4 - Gd works with our understanding on the level were we are. The height of spiritual understanding increases according to the depth of Torah study and a close relationship with Gd. An infant is fed milk first. As the child matures, it is slowly introduced to other staples according to what the child can handle, and until the pediatrician is assured the child is ready to digest meat. Many people are chronologically mature, but are spiritual infants because they do not put in the time to know Gd through Torah study, prayer, and fasting. The natural or carnal man cannot perceive the spiritual world or the Kingdom of Gd because it comes through revelation, so their focus is limited to the material or what they see with their eyes. Many people want a quick fix, and don't want to put in the time to increase their spiritual relationship and understanding with Gd outside of the basic Torah precepts. "I want meat, but feed me milk because I don't want to chew," many people say. Reply

Everything that seems to be, that seems it is as it must be - is here to serve the Jew - in his service of the Creator, the Master of the Universe. So, I'm taking this to mean -- of course it is all a delusion -- as any of it can change at any moment from what seems to be it's "natural" state, it's unchangeable circumstance. Just as a sea can (and did) stand erect and part for a Jew to cross on dry land. This is a message of Emunah - faith. Tremendous faith. Reply

Amen. Reply

Yeah I would think the "sea" is whatever is holding one back from fulfilling one's true purpose, from spreading G-dliness. I don't think that is necessarily materialism, though maybe it is for some. Reply

The sea to me is living faith ,by accepting the tides of life and of time we listen to the seas, faith in what tides gift us.for some it is our history, freedom ,food or poetry, art.

For a long time i felt the tide was coming in.
I think it has.
My jewish grandmother took my father and his brothers to the bridge
to face the seven winds .


The movements of wind winnowing over the waters .
Even that thought makes me well up ,the sea holds dialogue to the human soul .
So i turn back to the words that moved me to read the old testament with a deep thirst. Reply

Rabbi, will you elaborate on the definition of 'materialism' in this context?
Thank you in advance. Reply

I’m sorry, but I don’t see the correlation here. The Jews weren’t wrapped up in materialism at this point. We were slaves! Exodus 12 tells us that when the Israelites left they plundered the Egyptians and were given silver, gold, and clothing. The text seems to indicate they were instead ladened with the materialistic. Perhaps the parting of the sea , instead of stripping materialism, was meant to represent new birth? Just as at the birth of our world it was covered In waters that split, and at the time of the flood it was covered In water that humanity might start over from their sin, and just as a babe is brought forth in the waters of the womb, perhaps the splitting of the Sea was the birth of this Nation for G-d? And in His infinite mercy, GD blessed us before we even needed it? After all, what use is gold and silver in a desert? He took care of our physical needs first so we would be prepared for the more important spiritual needs at the foot of the mountain. Reply

Blessed be HaShem and blessed be the legion of HaShem; Israel ! Blesses be Israel who accepted the Torah in Mnt. Sinai proclaiming "We will Do and we will obey". Blessed be everyone who donates and contributes to chabad.org for only HaShem knows how this web page and emails subscription has kept me from the clutches of death and self imposed afflictions. Blessed be HaShem Reply

Mind Boggling Split When we earnestly desire with all our hearts to exit our self-focused mindset, then G_d provides the powerful force, 'Gar de Hochma' Light that severs us from our coarse materialist thoughts and actions.
Then He awards us a new fuel to move in the direction of love of others. He clears our mind to take path to reach His world. Reply

Sometimes when I can’t seem to see the top because the bottom is so full, I get my paint brush and try to paint my way out of the corner I’ve painted myself in. I look around and see that nice fluffy pillow nicely placed on that brocaded couch or that that dangling chandelier in the center of the room catching the sun’s rays thru the window where velvet curtains just hang perfectly at the window I sometimes look out. Then I think what does all of those pricey items have to do with my life. Only me and my canvas and my paintbrush in hand can seem to paint a door that leads to a safe way out. Reply

"A G‑dly place ever awaiting miracles." Good thing time is an illusion as forever is an exceedingly long time. Wake up, You are the miracle! Reply

Two Opposite Forces In the material world we only needed to work with one force. The force that distances us from one another only to force us to be immersed in our self.
The 'splitting of the sea' within us opens our perception to the existence of a second Force. A force that focuses us on healthy connections to others.

G_d will be happier if we ask for His Light to awake our senses towards love of others. Then the miracles will happen: As our broken connections are repaired, a whole new world will appear before us. A world beyond the material world.

Alternatively we will feel the harsh pressures of being forced to behave as a healthy interdependent system on a new level of existence.



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I have been thinking about where it says: the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the L-rd as the "waters cover the sea." I have been trying to figure it out. I guess the sea is not the water, but what is under the water. They say the sea has everything that dry earth has. And don't they also say that earth has everything there is in Heaven? My head hurts. Reply

This resonates so much with me. It is in fact the answer to what has been on my mind the last few weeks... This duality of the life I lead. Living in the world of modernity vs living in the world of spirituality/torah.

Thank you Rabbi Freeman. Reply